BGC welcomes UK sports funding boost but stresses opposition to gambling tax proposals
The lobby group continues to fight the plans for a new unified Remote Betting and Gaming Duty.
UK.- The British gambling industry lobby group the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed a government announcement of £400m in funding for grassroots sport while reiterating its opposition to plans to change the tax framework for online gambling.
The Labour government’s planned investment in grassroots sport is part of a wider £900m package intended to support a pipeline of major sporting events in the UK, including Euro 28, the 2026 European Athletics Championships and start stages of the men’s and women’s Tour de France in 2027. The BGC noted that its members are already major contributors to grassroots sport, including through Entain’s Pitching In and Flutter’s Cash for Clubs, plus sponsorship deals which support sports including horse racing, darts, rugby league and snooker.
CEO Grainne Hurst, said: “As long-time committed supporters of grassroots sports through investment, charity partnerships and sponsorship deals, we are delighted to see the Government commit more cash to unite communities and inspire people to take up sport.
“We absolutely agree with DCMS Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, sport tells our national story in a way like no other, and thanks to this funding alongside the money invested by BGC members, we are creating and improving new ways for tomorrow’s sporting heroes to train and take part in sport.”
Pitching In is an Entain initiative to support and develop grassroots sport in the UK, helping non-league clubs improve their facilities. The investment programme is working with Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern League clubs, known as the Trident Leagues.
Meanwhile Flutter’s Cash4Clubs has donated £6.5m since 2008 in small grants to grassroots sports and community clubs across Ireland and the UK, particularly in areas of need. The BGC also highlighted members’ financial support to horseracing, the English Football League and snooker, darts and rugby.
In a separate announcement, the British government has launched what it’s dubbed a new Modern Industrial Strategy, which includes a commitment to an internationally competitive tax regime to promote the UK as a prime destination for business and growth, plus a renewed focus on the creative industries.
The BGC has taken the opportunity to reiterate its opposition to the proposed unified Remote Betting and Gaming Duty (RBGD), which it thinks will increase costs for some operators.
Hurst said: ““We welcome this boost for creative industries, but the BGC would have welcomed more focus on the leisure and tourism sector. The land-based betting and gaming sector, including our world leading casinos, are a pillar of the UK economy, and are generating growth across the nation’s towns and cities. They deserve continued Government support,” she added.
“We also welcome the Government’s commitments to a tax regime that supports its growth ambitions. We have been clear, any tax rises on our sector will not boost growth, but will force people to the growing unsafe gambling black market.”
Meanwhile, CopyBet has joined the BGC as its newest member. Launched in 2016, the operator’s main premise involves allowing users to copy the bets made by others. Its site also provides tipster rankings based on betting performance and profitability.
The firm, which has a Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence and holds a Class B bookmaker license in Cyprus offers both pre-match and in-play betting markets. It is the front-of-shirt sponsor of EFL’s Queens Park Rangers FC and sponsors several Cypriot football teams. It recently became the International Betting Integrity Association‘s (IBIA) newest member.
